Hexagon Quilt Tutorial

I am not a big hand piecer or for that matter a hexagon quilt sewer, but for some reason I have hit the bug of —they are so cute. And, look, I can watch t.v. while doing something productive. I am even in love with the idea of having immediate satisfaction! I mean, make a few of those hexagons and sew them together and low and behold you have the start of a hexagon quilt, growing right before your eyes.

For those of you who are just starting out on this fantastically self satisfying journey- I have put together a quick reference tutorial. I am fully aware that others just take one stitch per corner, and that I take a few extra stitches…..but I kind of like to pull the thread if needed to kind of ‘gather’ the thread.

I don’t use any spray starch, or liquid starch. I just finger press. I also just print off the hexagon template right on normal paper! Gasp. If you find this is too thin to use, then print off the pattern on thicker paper, or cardstock. I DON’T use these templates over though…not going for longevity here. Just going for use it once kind of thing.

The thread that I use is hand quilting thread. It is a bit thicker than the normal thread, and can handle going in and out of the fabric without thinning out and shredding apart.

Do you need templates for your Hexagons? You can find some different sizes here.

1) Cut out the template, lay on wrong side of fabric

2) Fold one edge over the template and finger press, fold the second edge over

3) Starting on one corner, take a few stitches to secure

4) Take a couple of stitches to the next folded corner

5) Continue stitching to each corner, making sure the next side if folded before you get to the corner.

6) Take a couple of stitches when you are at the beginning corner of the hexagon {center photo}

Sewing two Hexagons together~

1) Lay right sides together, matching up the edge

2) Take a few stitches on the corner, catching both hexagons

3) Stitch little whipstitch stitches along the top edge of the hexagons- keep them lined up. You will be catching just the top edge of the fabric and NOT stitching through the template. Right along that fold is where your needle will catch for the stitch

4) Open up the hexagons and continue with the next piece

Sewing More than one Hexagon Together~

You will encounter Y seams when you are sewing more than two pieces together.

Line up the edge and stitch along that {as it says in the above instructions} At the corner you will pivot the piece and line up the second edge — you will need to maybe or convince the edge to line up with the second edge. Continue stitching the top edge until the next corner and pivot the piece again, and match up the edges.

The bottom picture shows the back side of the hexagon quilt so far. One of the papers has snuck out, but for the most part, you will want to leave the paper in until all the pieces are sewn together. You can take out the paper on the inner shapes, but wait to remove those outer ones until you have them sewn down to the background fabric. It will help it keep the shape of the whatever you are sewing your hexagons into.

If you’d like to practice your new found love– you can give it a try with some Snowflakes. In the future there will be another tutorial on hand applique techniques so you can sew these fun shapes down to a quilt.

If you have any questions about sewing these cute little things- Ask them in the comments.

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Oh Puleeze! In the time it takes to print out and cut out the templates to use for EPP, you could print out Inklingo pages on fabric and cut them out. Then you don’t have to prepare the EPP pieces (fold, baste, etc) just pin two pieces together (matching crosshairs) and sew the seam with a simple running stitch. Takes less than half the time as you can load the needle with several stitches before pulling the thread through. I really wish you would try this.

Thanks for the heads up– I will have to go and see what all the fuss is about.

Lori June 6, 2013

Hi, I am not a fan of the little hexs, but a friend got me started, and then I helped my 10 yr. old granddaughter start her first one. We have been using tub butter lids or any plastice container leftover from your kitchen, we mark our piecs then cut them out make a hole and use a chop stick for removing once sewn up. We save all winter long and now her friends are coming over 2x a week this summer to make their own. What a wonderful thing to do on a day with friends, outside, and learning a skill that will last a lifetime………..

Nancy Angelo June 6, 2013

Thank you for these printable hexagons. I would also like to print 1/4″ and 1/2″ if you have a source for them. I have purchased several different sizes and shapes online because the shops near me don’t carry much of them and sometimes you want to get started on a project right away without waiting for your order to come in the mail. I would like different sizes of tumblers as well, if you have a source for them. I like getting your e-mails you have so much good stuff in them…Nancy

Connie Rhea June 12, 2013

Heavenly Hexagons. They are so much fun and your tutorial is so helpful. Thanks a bunch.
Thanks for the printable pattern, I can haardly wait to teach my great granddaughter what fun hexagons are. I appreciate the questions that other quilters have asked.

The size depends on what size of hexagon you are sewing. I tend to cut my fabric at least 1/4″ larger than the template. That way if it shifts while sewing you are good. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Sue August 10, 2013

I have a polyester quilt top that I bought, but two of the fabrics are deteriorating and one has pretty much disintegrated. So, I’m trying to use some polyester ties to make new hexie flowers to replace those that are gone.
I’m so happy to have the templates and I’m hoping I can actually DO this!
Any suggestions for stabilizing the quilt where the “flowers” are now gone? I’m thinking freezer paper but I keep getting distortions….it’s a challenge!
Sue

Sue- are you stabilizing the old fabric or the new fabric from the tie? If it’s the new fabric you might want to iron some fusible thin stabilizer on the back. The same stuff you put in your shirt collars if you were sewing those. That will keep the fabric from shifting, but not add too much thickness. You should still be able to sew them into hexagons. Let me know how that goes and what you ended up doing. here is a link to how to use t-shirts and clothes in your quilts. same kind of idea. http://www.patchworkposse.com/2013/05/quilting-a-t-shirt-quilt-instructions-and-hints/

Sue September 6, 2013

When the material disintegrated in the original quilt top, things got distorted and it is difficult to figure out what size my “finished” hexi block needs to be. So, I was thinking I might be able to use freezer paper to stabilize the surrounding blocks so that I can then “insert” the new block I make.

Wonder if the quilt top is worth all this trouble…but I do like a challenge….at least until it frustrates me which this one has and so has been packed away for 4 years.

awesome site I cant wait to get started with a hexagon shaped afghan very creative Thanks!!

Patti September 28, 2013

I’m confused. Your blog says there is no hand sewing in this pattern. “For this project I didn’t sew anything by hand, it was all sewn with machine and a satin stitch or zig zag stitch along the outside edges. Super Simple!” Yet when I downloaded he pattern, it looks to be all hand seeing. What am I missing?

you can use the template for hand stitching or for the other methods. You decide….I have done all 3 using the same template.

Sharon September 29, 2013

Thank you for the pattern template. I have used colored pencils and designed my own Grandmothers Flower Garden design. I truly enjoy the hand stitching of the little hexagons. I am in no hurry to finish because it is so much fun!

Gulnaz October 16, 2013

Hi Becky, do i necessarily have to stitch the hexagon with my cardstock inside? can’t i simply cut the fabric and machine stitch together?

Gulnaz- Yes, and no. Yes you can stitch them all together and No you don’t have to leave the cardboard in. I do notice that leaving it in keeps the shape a lot better if you are hand stitching. where you are machine stitching, you should be fine. Have fun!

Deleana November 3, 2013

I have trouble when I sew together the hexagons to form a flower. They don’t lie flat. For some reason when I finish the entire flower the hexagons won’t lie flat so that I can iron them.

Hi.I wanted to share I use a paper punch to make a hole in the center of the paper.I pin the paper to the fabric through the hole to hold it in place. I do not sew through the paper. It makes it very easy to remove the papers with tweezers. I enjoy seeing your creations.
judy

Jo December 4, 2013

Hi Deleana

I sew my hexagons in strips across the shape not petal by petal around the centre.

Anne January 21, 2014

Any thoughts on how you will quilt it once you have sewed them all together? I have a lovely quilt top in process – with lots of negative space and appliquéd hexagon flowers but now I can’t figure out how to quilt the darn thing! Suggestions and ideas would be much appreciated.

rosemarie garone June 17, 2014

okay i unders stand how to make the hexes. but how do you get them onto a backing.

You really ought to try Inklingo. I have just finished several Grandmother’s garden circles. I love it. So simple and much easier I think. You will have to be the judge of that for yourself. It is very addictive.

Kathy January 23, 2015

Also looking for quilting ideas… My piecing is going along great, but the further I get into the project, the more concerns I have about how I’m going to quilt the bugger. I’m using 1″ hexagons.

Eula February 12, 2015

I pieced a hexagon quilt entirely by hand. I used a 100 per cent cotton batting and the hexagons are all puffy. How can I eliminate this next time?

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